It has been over six months since I last reviewed an In Action title and this next one is on the C-17 Globemaster III. This aircraft had one of the longer gestation periods of any USAF transport aircraft, the requirement being initially put forth in the late 1960s as a replacement for the C-130. Basically, it had to have all the abilities of a C-130, but be jet powered and be a bit larger as well. This resulted in a fly-off between the Boeing YC-14 and Douglas YC-15. I can recall going to C-9A school at Scott AFB and seeing these two planes perform for MAC. Both of them were quite capable in my eyes, and while either would have made a fine transport, neither one was chosen due to budget constraints (something that should have happened for the F-35 in your editor's opinion).

This did not mean that the requirement went away as, while better and more capable versions of the C-130 continued to be produced, the USAF wanted a new jet transport to replace the now very old C-141 and eventually the C-5. Again, both Boeing and McD/Douglas provided aircraft, based pretty much on the layout of their earlier planes with the Boeing entry having two 'over wing' engines and one buried in the tail like a 727. The McD/Douglas entry was given the nod for production and the first one (now called the C-17) flying in late 1991. Test flying went smoothly and while the project was more than a billion dollars over budget, the first unit started receiving their aircraft in 1993. Since then, the plane has performed quite well with a few other nations buying into the aircraft. Now, some 20 years after its initial unit entry, the type is about done with the final airframes being built for India and Kuwait.

The book is quite well written though it tends to sound like an advertisement for the C-17 and its capabilities than other 'in Action' titles. I guess this is pretty much to be expected from an aircraft built in relatively small numbers as the number of pages in these titles has increased quite a bit over the initial $3.95 offerings back in the early 1970. As you would expect as well, the book is very image intensive with the majority of images coming from the USAF.

In addition to covering all of the systems and capabilities of the aircraft, we are provided with the differences between the various block numbers and we get a look at those aircraft built for the UK, Canada, India, Australia, UAE and Quatar. Since these planes are generally pretty consistent in their colors, there is a section that looks at the various unit tail bands carried by the C-17. In the end is a production summary as well as all of the records captured by the C-17.

It is a well illustrated and interesting book on this current USAF transport and one that I am sure you will enjoy reading.

June 2013

My thanks to Squadron Products for the review copy. Get yours today at your favorite shop or on-line retailer.

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